Obviously, special effects were always important to Pal, and he always tried to include the very latest and most state-of-the-art effects in his movies. I suspect that part of it was just a matter of good branding and showmanship--"Another Extravaganza from the Mind of George Pal! Featuring the Most Astounding Special Effects Ever Committed to Film!"--but I also think a lot of it was just a love of special effects, makeup, and the gadgets and gizmos of film effects wizardry.